Produce and Pesticides: What You Should Know
The nitty-gritty on produce pesticides.
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Your Food, Your Health - As the weather warms up, you may find yourself reaching for lighter meals prepared with fresh fruits and vegetables. In recent years, the use of pesticides on commercially grown produce has spurred debate about the potential health concerns related to these chemicals. BET.com takes a closer look at the pesticides debate and how you can protect your health. — Britt Middleton (Photo: Andersen Ross/GettyImages)
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What Are Pesticides and Who Monitors Their Use? - The Environmental Protection Agency registers or licenses pesticides for use in the United States and puts limits on how much of a pesticide residue can remain on food products or commodities. These chemicals are used to kill rodents and other potentially harmful organisms on commercially grown fruits and vegetables. (Photo: Paula Bronstein /Getty Images)
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Possible Link to Parkinson's Disease - Researchers in a study published in the May 28 issue of the journal Neurology found that prolonged exposure to pesticides, bug and weed killers, and solvents increased the risk for developing Parkinson's disease by anywhere from 33 to 80 percent. However, researchers did not study whether the type of exposure — whether inhaled or absorbed through the skin — and application method affected risk. (Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
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Other Health Risks - Independent studies have also linked prolonged exposure to delayed or altered development, cancer, acute and chronic injury to the nervous systems, lung damage, reproductive dysfunction and damage to the endocrine (hormone) and immune systems, according to the EPA. (Photo: Rachel Weill/Getty Images)
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What Does "Organic" Mean? - “Organic” is a designation made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Organic Program certifying that food was grown without synthetic chemicals, fertilizers, genetic engineering, sewage sludge or radiation methods. The Environmental Working Group (EWG), the nation’s leading environmental health research and advocacy organization, suggests eating organic produce when possible. (Photo: Courtesy of The United States Department of Agriculture)
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Produce Prep - Foods not labeled organic are usually labeled "conventional" in most grocery stores. If you must buy conventionally-grown fruit or vegetables, experts say it is best to wash them and peel the skin off (where the pesticide residue resides) before consuming, however this may only have a limited effect. (Photo: PA Photos /Landov)
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Budget Woes - Buying organic can be expensive, but there are ways to help fit them into even the tightest of budgets. The EWG has a breakdown of the top 12 conventionally-grown produce to avoid and the top 15 deemed less hazardous to help you decide what's best for your budget and your family. Whether you choose organic or not, incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily diet is better than none at all, experts say. (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images)